Going on Holiday!
School finished a few days ago, with an odd ending. From the stary of the academic year it was written in the school calendar that we would finish on Thursday 26th. (Note – the school is in Oman and the work week runs from Sunday to Thursday). We had forewarning that the Islamic New Year (1st of Muharram) would be around about that date and so the Principal worked on the assumption that the 26th would be a public holiday. So he planned the last week like this-
Sunday and Monday as normal school days (not that many students turned up).
Tuesday – end of term celebrations at the Sultan Qaboos complex in Salalah. Pupils would put on acts and receive prizes etc. There was also an Art Show. The whole thing was opened by some big wig from the Ministry of Education. It was a nice morning. Staff had to arrive by 0830 and the whole place to be clear by 1230. It meant I had a chance to get in an early swim at my compound in Hawana, though I only managed a dozen lengths, which is 240m; I suppose it would sound better if I said a quarter of a kilometre.
Wednesday – all staff to come to school by 0800 and could leave at 1400. There was a meeting ‘well done, thanks etc.’ Then off to classrooms to sort out and prepare for next year.
It turned out that the spotting of the Moon was at a different time and the public holiday was declared for the 29th – best laid plans etc.
Now I really did think that I was going to be very busy that day sorting out my room for my successor – and it turns out I am my successor!
Back in April I was offered a job as a Maths teacher at a school in Kuala Lumpur where an old friend of mine is head of the secondary school. Things looked ok though there was a pay cut; I was ok with that as I knew I would not need a rental car in the City, and rents were lower, so I could see that at least half of the pay cut would be reduced. Later on I found that pay is taxed…
Then in May I was offered the chance to move to our new school in Muscat; this will be the third school owned by the company, as we have this main one here an Salalah and another in Duqm (which I never pronounce properly). I was also offered a pay rise to move!
So, being a clever little Maths teacher I sat down with pen and pencil and calculator. Conclusion – because of tax and reduced income the school in Muscat would mean my take home pay would be nearly £2000 a month more!!!
No brainer.
Apologised to John in KL – sorry mate! And stared preparing to move to Muscat.
Then on Sunday 21st June the Principal hit me with some news – the Ministry of Education in Muscat would not give me a work visa because my degree is in Physics and I would be employed as a Maths teacher! So 4 years to get my Physics degree, of which almost a third of the courses were Maths, counts for more than 40 years of Maths teaching.
Feckin eejits as we like to say.
There we go – 4 days before you’re set to go and everything changes. I’ already told the letting agency I was leaving at the end of the month, so had to get that sorted too – I thought I would get away with not having to pay rent for two months.
Feck it – so I have at least one more year in my five-star resort on the Sea of Oman; life is a bitch sometimes.
I’ve been waiting a while for my updated Medical Insurance card as the current one expires on the 30th of June. I need it so I can get my medication for the summer – I have a minor heart condition and one day it will stop working… Still nothing so I went to the Pharmacy today to collect everything with the aim of paying up front and then claiming money back when I come back to Salalah. The Pharmacist looked and my prescription and would not fulfil it as it was dated the 18th. I didn’t have time to see the doc and get a new one. I will probably have to visit a clinic in Bali or Phuket and then contact the insurance company. The girl from HR says she will send me the Insurance document as soon as she gets it.
I packed and drove to the airport and handed over my rental at twenty past seven, three hours before my flight. How to describe Salalah Airport? It’s an airport, which these days means an expensive shopping Mall where bored people will buy any old shit. I know because I bought some Calvin Klein aftershave at a stupid price. There is also a Subway which provided my evening meal.
I sat contemplating plans for my holiday;
Try to work out something with my sons,
Get The Death of Mr Dick ready for publishing,
Gomplete the first draft of St Neds,
Find out about putting the Fairy Hanny books onto Goodreads,
Research more on Thinkific,
And a million other things.
Flight was called on time – I think we get into Muscat round midnight. Then the flight will take me to Jakarta, then change for Bali.
Four weeks in Bali and I have no idea what it will be like!
Fairy Hanny 